WCSEE equipment selected for major wastewater upgrade

Anglian Water has completed the installation of specialist wastewater treatment equipment from WCS Environmental Engineering (WCSEE). A total of 10 WCSEE Hybrid modular biological treatment units and two Flocell XFMs for tertiary solids removal were put in place as part of a major upgrade of Horning Knackers Wood water recycling centre (WRC) in north Norfolk. 

The water company was required to implement the solution to ensure dry weather flow at the works remained compliant, as river flooding and groundwater infiltration into the network was causing complications. 

The conventional equipment in place at the WRC, which is sited in the riverside area of the village of Horning, had proven to be unsustainable due to changes in ground condition and the prevailing hydrology of the area.  

Soil in the region is predominantly peat over sand and gravel, which is porous and has low cohesion. This means it is subject to continual movement, which added pressure on the pipe joints.  

Combined with a high-water table, this had resulted in groundwater infiltration into the pipes, augmenting volumes, and increasing the challenge of meeting environmental consents at the works. 

Anglian Water sought to implement measures to protect the integrity of its infrastructure and support wider drainage resilience, while ensuring the long-term water recycling needs of the Horning area.  

WCSEE worked closely with contractor Kier to install, test and commission the wastewater equipment. To ensure the proposed solutioned aligned with the unique onsite challenges, WCSEE also conducted preliminary background work in collaboration with engineers, suppliers and logistics departments within Kier, including organising transport and manufacturing slots. This was carried out while maintaining open communication with the Anglian Water. 

The upgraded WRC now has the capacity to treat flows of 25l/s, with a consent of 20mg/l for total suspended solids, 10mg/l for ammonia, and 10mg/l for biochemical oxygen demand – providing a retention time of greater than two hours. 

James Greenwood, head of sales at WCSEE, said, “WCSEE is proud that the Hybrid and Flocell XFM technologies have been selected by Anglian Water to meet its challenges on meeting dry weather flow consents in a tightening regulatory landscape. Throughout the process, Anglian Water and Kier praised the WCSEE team for being easy to deal with, being flexible and going above and beyond during discussions to ensure key dates in the project were met. 

“The contract demonstrates growing demand for adaptable wastewater treatment technologies from WCSEE, that give water companies greater flexibility in meeting the needs of tightening regulatory standards.” 

WCSEE’s patented Hybrid technology employs a submerged moving-bed and fixed-film reactor, proven to treat wastewater with energy efficiency compared to other submerged Hybrids. The flow balancing in the primary tank means it can handle variable flows and loads, making it ideal for the seasonal and variable demands in Norfolk. Its modular design and smaller footprint over comparable technologies make it versatile and flexible for deployment in a wide range of locations. 

The two Flocell XFM modular filtration systems were originally developed for pond filtration applications for high value koi carp. They have been successfully adapted for wastewater treatment and installed at Horning Knackers Wood WRC for tertiary solids removal.  

The open-cell media is designed to efficiently reduce tertiary solids and soft, difficult-to-manage flocs, retaining particulates without increasing pressure within the filter or reducing flow. The units can be operated under pumped or gravity flow and can be used inline or on a multi-pass flow mode.   

Mark Jones, project manager at Kier said, “Initial go ahead for the installation of the Hybrid and Flocell XFMs was provided in late 2024 - early 2025 by Kier, with the contract signed with WCSEE in February 2025. The installation was done in stages, with WCSEE equipment installed first, in March 2025, to coincide with the permit requirement from the Environment Agency. 

“The remaining WRC equipment was delivered and installed in June/July 2025, with seeding commencing in June 2025, and the project team is incredibly pleased and satisfied to see the WRC operational and delivering wastewater treatment for the surrounding community.” 

Taxonomy

• Water